Safety device for elevating trucks



' I 0 19-27 F. EIDMANN SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELBVATING TRUCKS Filed Jan. 2. 1924 s sneets-she'et'l I ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 4,, 1927.

v F. E IDMANN SAFETY.DEVICE'FOR-ELEVATING TRUCKS F led Jan. 1924 1 s Sheetg-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS;

Oct. 4, 1927.

F. .L. EIDMANN' SAFETYDEVICE FOR ELEVATING'TRUCKS' Filed Jan. 2, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Mn BY- ATTORNEY5.

Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

Lamaze,- i

FRANK L. EIDMANNfOF NORTH BERGEN, NEW-JERSEY, ASSIGNOR ro nnimvisfl GERMOND; JR., OF BAYONNE,-NEW JERSEY,

SAFETY DEVICE Fort ELEVATING. 'rnuo s.

Application fired January 2, 1924. Serial No. @3318; f

This invention relates in general to a safety device to preventaccidental release of the elevating platform of lifting machines, such as elevating trucks, which comprise a main frame or support, an elevating platform to receive a load and movable up and down on said main-frame, a lever. or handle pivoted on the main frame and adaptedto separably connect with said elevating platform to raise and lower the latter as the handle is swung about its pivot, and latch or detent means' for holding said platform in elevated position after the handle is disconnected"therefrom. One object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described embodying novel and improved features of construction whereby descent of the, elevating platform cannot take place until 7 the lifting handle has been disconnected from said platform, so as to prevent possibilit-y of thehandle being accidentally forcibly swung upwardly by descent of the platform and injuring-the operaton Another ob ect is to provide such a device which preventsoperation of thelatch or detent means holding the platform in elevated position, whilethe lifting handlefis'operatively connected to the platform, said devlce being automatically actuated by'disc onnec tion of the lifting handle from the platform to release the latch or detent means to permit operation thereof to allow the platform to descend. i

A further object is to provide a device of the character described in combination with an elevating truck having the elevating platform provided with a linkpivotally connected thereto and adapted to be separably con-I nected to a lifting handle pivoted on'the main frame of the truck to raise and. lower said platform, anda' latch to hold the platform in elevating position, said device serving automatically to prevent actuation of said latch while the handle is connected to the platform with the latter in elevated position and being automatically actuated by said link when the latter is disconnected from said handle to release said latch. o

Other objects are to providenovel and improved construction and combinationof said link'and a gravity operatedsafety pawl adapted to normally andautomatically engage said latch when the platform 1s 1n ele vated position and connected with sa1d han clle to prevent operation of the latch; and to obtain other results and advantages as ma'y be brought out bythe following description,

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

.in which like numerals of reference indicatet-he same parts throughout theseveral views,

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation'of the forward end of an elevatingtruck having a safety device embodying my invention apphed thereto, showing the [elevati11g platform in its lowermost position i '65, Figure Q is' a View similar to Figure 11 showing the position of thepartswiththe V elevating platform intermediate itsilowen most and uppermost positions ;y

Figure 3is a similar View showing the 'ele{ vating platform. in its uppermost elevated position and with the-handle stillopera tively connected to the platform 'and' the safety device in operation; if

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the handledisconnected' from "the platform and the safety device in inoperative 'po'sitiom" V Figures 5 and 6 are transverse vertical sectional views through" the truck'tak'en on the line-56 of Figure Jr and looking in op-v posite directions, and F gure 7 is a view' similar to Figure 1 showing a modification of the safetyde'vice adapted to be utilized foractuatingthe' connecting link between the handle andthe platform into operative position. i

' In the specific embodiment of the inven-i .tion shown on the drawings,"the reference character A designatesgt-he, frame of the truck which may beofany"suitable'coir struction and is mounted at the rear end on wheels 1 journaletl on a transverse shaft '2 (see Fig. 5) The forward endof' the frame A is provided substantially centrally of its width'witha king pin 3 revolubly journaled in the frameand carrying at itslower end a pair of steering wheels 4, this l constiuiction enabling the truck to. be steered by rotation of theking pin 3. 1. F I

An elevating and load s'usta'irli'rigplatform B is mounted on the frame in such a manner that the truck may bepushed, be: neath a load which is spaced from the floor by means of skids, the saidplatform being adapted to be elevated on the'fran'ieA to raise the loadfrom the floor onto thetruck. Any suitable means may beutilized 'forso mounting ithe platform'on the same, but in the present instance a pair of parallel links i 5 is shown as pivotally connected between the frame A and the platform Bjat each'end so that forward' motion of the platform causes oscillation of the parallel links which-in -turn raises'the platform on the main frame'. All of the above-mentioned construction is vold and well known, and no I 7 claim tonovelty is based thereon. a

i For'thepurpose of drawing the truck from'plaoe to place and steering the same, j

the king pin 3 may be rovided at its upper end'with a bracket (i form ed with two upwardly projecting spaced ears 7 between which is pivotally mounted at one end on a pin S a draft handle 9,'said handle being adapted to swing about itspivot 8 1n vertical planes and to revolve the kingpin 3 by swinging of thehandle in horizontal planes 1 so as to steer thetruck. The said handle is I alsoadapted to be operatively connected withtheplatform B;.todraw the same forwardly;,so as to oscillate the links, 5land elevate the platform.

fFor'this purpose, the draft handle m be provided with a rearwardly projecting hook 'lOadapted to cooperate with a link 11 pivotall'yiconnectedatone end as at 12 wto'the forward end of the platform B. The free end of saidlink ispreferably bifurcated I with its arms connected by a'pin 13 which is adapted'to engage the hook 10 of the handle,as shown by dotted linesin Figure 1 i and in Figure 2, the hook 1O engaging the pin 13 between the arms of the link so that alimited relative 'lateral movement of the handle-and thelink is permitted. The link 11 may-be connected tolthef orwardj end of the-platform in any suitable manner, but in the'presentinstance I have shown the link skid bearing a load' which 'it is desired to elevate and transport by the truck.

; connected to thefront side of a skid stop 14' which'forms the forward end of the plat} formB and isadapted to engage a'skid to "limit 'themovementf of the truck beneath the ",When -the'platform B is fin its" normal lowermost position, the link 11 is" swung rearwardly into a substantially vertical -po sition" against the skid stop 14, as shown by V. solidlines in'jFigure' 1', and in thi's'position i u's o ffin g thetruck; When it is desired'tojelevate the handle 9isfree for drawinga'nd steer "the latform 1B, thehandle 9 is swung :u

e0 B is pulled forwardly and elevated by oscil- .war 1y into a substantially vertical position, as shownby dot and dash lines in Figure'l, after which? the link 11 'is manually swung forwardly, for" instance by the foot of the operator, so'that the pin 13 lies on the hook 10 of thehandlei The'handle 9 is then swungjjdownwardly in a vertical plane, as indicated by Figure 2, whereby the platform lation offthe links';5. Any suitable means may be employed for holding the elevating .platform in its uppermost position, but in the present instanceljhaveshown the for-'.

ward end of the platform B provided: with a rearwardly facing lug 15 adapted to be engaged by the head 16 of a latch lever 17 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends at 180m the forward end of the main frame A. The latch lever 17 is normally influenced into the path of the-lug 15 by means of a spring .19, and as the platform B rises, the lug 15 slips beneath the head 16 of the lever 17 ,which then engages the rear faceof-the lug to hold the platform against'rearward movement and descent. The platform is shown in its uppermost position in' Figure 3 ordinary conditions without throwing the iinkirearwardly, due to the'lateral play between the hook 10 and pin. 13. Afterthe of the drawings, and maybe steered under platform has been raised to this position and it is desired to low-er the platform, it is .ad visable to disconnect the link 11 from the handle 9, and this disconnection is readily accomplished by swinging the handle 9 up wardly into the position shown by dot and dash lines in Figure 3 and then pushing the link rearwardly into ,contact with the skid stop 14. 'To'release the platform the for ward end of'the latch lever 17 is provided with a treadle 20 which may be depressed by the operator souas to disengage the-head'16 of theilever from the 1ug115 whereupon the platform' descends by action of gravity.

Any known means, such as a dash-pot con-,

struction, may be utilized toretard the descent of the platform. y 7

It is an'important feature of my invention to provide means for preventing operation of the latch lever 17 and descent of the plat form B until the link 11 has been completely disconnected from the handle )9, whereby the possibility of the handlebeing forcibly,

swung upwardly by descentof the platform n such a-manner as to injure the operator, 1S obviated. For this purpose, I may pro vide a gravity actuatedpawl 21 pivotally connected at one end 22 to the forward end of the platform B, for instanceto the skid stop 14, above the lug 15, the lower end of said pawl being'no-rmally positioned by ac tion of gravity to engage the top of the head 16 of the latch lever 17 when the platform is in its uppermost position and the link 11 f connected to the handle 9. The pawl 21 is shown in operative relation to the lever 17 position, the lu'g 23 engages the l l'g d' swings the pawl 21 I'earWardl-y ontoi en gagelnent with the latch leve1' 17;,- as shown in Figure-; With the pawl .Zl in this 'posi tion', "the latch lever 17 =beifreely 0perated so as to permit descentbfthef plat form but it Will be observed that tliei'e is;no possibility oat-the handle'9 being swungnpWard-l y, sil'ic'ethe pawl 21 is caused "to- -re lease the lever 17 only after the link has been completely disconnected from the hang dle -9-. It will be -'noted "that';the link may be simultaneosly "disconnected frol'n theha' n d-l'e 9 and thrown re'afwardly into inoperative position "by" a quick nearvvarc'ls ingin of" the handle, the pin'l3rid ing {along the hand-le so that the link is swung abont i'ts' -Pivo 't: 12 as the handle' i's moved rearW-ardly; as shown by detand dash lines infFigure 3; v 7

Under some conditions 'the 5 1 "ad on the platform Bisso elose' to' or so overhangs the skid stop 14 as to render it" diific'ultoi possible for the opera-tor --to reaehtthe link; 1;1 with' his feet: to pull; it forwardly into} engagement witlfthehook 10.- T0 overcome this d'ifi ien'lty, I may provide the nppei 'end'il of the" pawl; 21 with an u w rdly and for so that the 11195 24 in 'engageinent I with the} lug 23".0n the link pnsh'esftheflink foifwardly as desired; "This Construction is furtherajdvantageous in that "it "is easier to; push rearwardly; on the -tfeadle 27 inamto (pull? In the'pa'rtiel' lai "construction desel ihed? thefhan'd'le-9 is preferably piovidedfwith aljug 25 to' engage the base, of thehf aeliet 'fi and 'llinit rearward-1s ingi g 'of the handle, as 's'hoWn-inF-igufre 4. Ajlbto ensure;p1 oper engageme t of the pawl 21' with i the latch Wa d swinging of the pawl to a point beyondand withother types 6f, holding means than theleverll'z and hig 15.

While; I has a certai' undeist'ob'd that this 'is' mainiy fe the: g n"; page of"il1i1'strating thpinimples of {the 111- vention; and that mainy inodifiea'tions and for holdingsaid ol'a-tforn 1;against aceidei ta-lv hem and described the safety" device as"'eifibodying certain details; 1 (if ;OinTStifi1(fii6I1 lisd i Ii" QCOIlIlGCtIibII 4 type of elevating tnick, 'it will changes can"be made in-the'detagil eonst 'uc tion-fof the deviee and the-device used: inconnection with many other t'ypes of lifting machines, Without depaiting from" the spirit or scope of :the "invention; Therefor'es l'l do not wish toflee 11nd 'e1 stoed --as-i"estr-ic'ting my? selfexcept as" "required byv the following," claims when" eonstnied in theliglit (if-the prior ai tf f I Having thus descf-ibed the inVenti n, Whajtlel'aimisfzf Iiia-lYfti "gdeVi'ce, the combination Off a main frame, an elevating platform rnoy ably mounted thereon, lifting handle on said 1nai.-1'1-frame ion'i'aising' and beefing the platform; "means for 'separahl-y opei'a form t0 iaise and lower the latter,- 'nieans descent from its uppermost position; and

means for releasably *loekin-gfsaidllholdiiig means infoper ativie position i av said 3 con! I heating means is o era-mvgly engaged -ith said h and le sald l-a'st-mei tlonedz nieazns beina'c'amedjby saidcomieeengmean -awn:a h

conneetionithereojf from said; 'h'a iidl e' to *ie lease sald holdmgmeans. v'

' QJYT'he. co ":ihina'tbn with lifting "device including a"mainframe,- an-eleyating13l form moi ably mounted "thereon; a lifting handle on said *niaiif frame r foi iais'ing'and lowefing th'e? platform; meansilor's p rab1yoperatiifl'ely" eonneeting said-{handle to said" platfornitb iaise and-jlo'wex" 'the latt ef, and a" latch levenpi'x'foted Damage-ms fen i 'e le'as'alily holding said platform against as scent from" its iippeiinost position; of meai1s forl eleasably holding, s'a.i'dlatph* lever; in? 013' era'tive ;-position, said holdingdje-e'ans being; actuated iby said conneeti'nguneans "whe the 5 latte'i is disconnected"from *S'aid liandle t0; perlinitcrelease oiis'aid"lateli'levef-iioni said: I

operative position. r v

mb na ion w h vli ti idevic incl-iijding a main frame, an; eievafifig- 1m;- form ino vably 'mountedfl thereon? a hi mghandle Onsaid mam-fa escanning;ans lo'iv'ei ing the plat'foiih, *apdgmeans fer eepag rablyoiiefativelyfcqnneeting said hiundleih v said' plat forni, co-raise and lo'Wei thef latteifi 3 l 5 of niea'nsopefable while said-handle is-eon'; I nested to said platform; and-the platform is iii; its elevated 'iiosition fer preventing-d9" scent o isaidjjlatfoi'nif'ando means for-191 0"- dneiiig'f -'actnatien of "lastFment iOn-ednieansj by said "eonnct ing neans-lwhn said handleand said -"-plat-fof1n "are disconnected said cbnneetin imegns td 'pe finit des cnt *oi" said platform. k

Tl1e'.. 'co1nbi-nation W'itlinQli'i't-ing devise iiicliidinga main fnarne, an elevating plat-f form ,movably mounted thereon, a fitting handle on said-name" to eonnee wim said platform to "mi-segue loh er thesa-ine and bef dis'een'nectedthereforni' after the platformhas been raised, and. releasablemean's for holdin said platform in its elevated posi 1 tion,-'o' gravity actuated means mounted on said platformto automatically separably engage said holding means when the platform is in its elevated position to positivelyprevent release of; saidholdingmeans and.

'. thereby prevent descent of said platform,

'' V and meansoperable by disconnectionof said handle from said. platform for. automati-' I cally actuating said gravity actuated means out v foperative relation. with-said holding 5'. Thelcombination with a lifting device. including af-main frame, an elevating platform movably mounted thereon, a lifting handle on said main-framefor raising and lowering the platform, and a link pivotally connected to saidplatform to separably connectwithsaid handle for raising and lowering thetplatform, of means operable while said link isrconnected with saidhandle and r said platform is inxitselevated positionjfor positively preventing descent of said I plat- 7 'form, said means being actuated by sa d j link when the latterisdisconnected from the handle to permit descent ofv said latform.

6; The combination witha li ting device including a main frame, an elevating-platform movably mounted thereon, a lifting ,handleonsaid main framefor raising and lowering the platform, anda link pivotally .-connected to said platform to separably con nect. wfi'th said handle for raising and lower.-

" in the platform, and releasable means for ho ding'said platform inv elevated position, ofinea'ns operable while said link is ,connected with said handle'and the platform is inits. elevated position. for preventing. re-v lease of said holding means, said last-mentioned means being actuated into inoperative relation to said holding means by said link when thelatter is disconnected from said handle. 1

' 7, The combinationwith alifting device in. -'cluding amain frame, an elevating platform movably mounted thereon, a lifting handle 5 on said main frame for-raising and lowering tIie'platform, [a link: pivotally connected to said platform to separably connect with said handlefor raising and lowering the plathandle;

form, and releasable'meansfor holding saidplatform in elevated position, of gravity actuated means to automatically separably engage said holdingmeans. when the platformis in itselevated position and said link isconnected to said handle toprevent release 5 of said: holding means, said gravity actuated means being actuated *by said link into inoperative relation to said holding means when said link is disconnected from said I 8.,The combination with a lifting device including a main frame, an elevating platform movably .mounted thereon, a lifting handle on said, frame to "connect with said platform to raise and lowerthe same and be disconnected therefrom after the platform has'been raised, and means mountedon said frame-to releasablyengage said platform when the latter is in its elevated. positionto hold the platform against descent, of means mounted on said platform for preventing release of said holding means whilethe plat- Y formis in its elevated position, and means ;operable by; disconnection of said handle from said platformto actuate, saidlast-men tioned means and release said holding means.

9. The combination with a lifting device includinga main frame, anelevating platform movably mounted. thereon, ,a lifting handle on said'frame to, connect with said platform to raiseand lower the sameand be disconnected therefrom after the platform has been raised, and a latchv lever pivoted on said frame't'Q releasably engage saidplatform when the latter is in its elevated I position, of means mounted on said platform toautomatically separably engage said latch lever, when the platformzis in. its elevated position to prevent releasing operation of? said lever, and means operable by disconnectionfofsaid handle and said platform for actuating said last-mentioned meansinto inoperative relation' to said latch lever.

10. The combination withalifting device including agmain fra'me, an elevating platform movably mounted. thereon, a lifting handle on said main fra'me forraising and is in' elevated position, said last mentioned means being actuated into inoperative rela=' tion with saidholdingjmeans by said link when the latter is disconnected from said handle. a V I 11. The combination with a lifting device including a main frame, an elevating plat form movably mounted thereon, a lifting handle on said main frame for raising and lowering the platform, a link pivotally connectedto said, platform to separably connect with said handle forraising-and lowering the platform, saidlink being adapted to be swung rearwardly about its pivot toward said platform, when disconnected from said a handle, andmeans mounted on said frame to releasably engage .Sttld platform when the, latter is in: its elevated position-to hold the platform against descent, of'a gravity actuated pawl pivota llymounted to swing in a vertical plane on said platform. to separably engage said holding means when the platform is elevated to prevent releasing operation of said holding means, said pawl being arranged to be engagedby said link and forced into inoperative relation to said holding means as the link is swung rearwardly upon disconnection from said handle.

12. The combination with a lifting device including a main frame, an elevating platform movably mounted thereon, a lifting handle on said frame to connect with said platform to raise and lower the same and be disconnected therefrom after the platform has been raised, and a latch member movable in a vertical plane to releasably engage said platform when the latter is in elevated position 'to hold the platform against descent, of a gravity actuated member pivotally mounted on said platform to swing in a vertical plane so that its lower end separably engages'the top of said latch member on a dead center between said latch member and the pivot of said gravity actuated member when the platform is in elevated position to prevent releasing opera tion of said latcli'member, and means for disengaging saidgravity actuated member from said latch member by disconnection of said handle from gaid platform.

13. The combination with a lifting device including a main frame, an elevating platform movably mounted thereon, a liftlink is connected'to said handle to prevent release itfrom said latch.

release of said holding means, said lever' being engaged by said link and forcedinto inoperative relation to said holding means when said link is disconnected from the handle and swung upwardly, said lever also serving to throw said link downwardly into engagement withsaid handle when pressure I is exerted on the other'end of said. lever;

14. The combination with a lifting device includingja main frame, an elevating platform movably mounted thereon, a'liftinghandle on said main frame for raising and lowering the platformfand a link pivotally i connected to said platform to separably con-v nect with said handle for raising and lowering the platform, and releasable'means for holding said platform inelevated position, i i

of means operable while said link is connected with said handle and the platform is. in its elevated position for preventingrelease of said holding means, said last-memtioned means being engaged and actuated by r said link into inoperative relation to said holding means when'the link is disconnected from the handle and thrown into its vertical position, said last-mentionedmeans being also manually operable to throw said link from its vertical position into engagement with said handle.

15. A' lifting device comprising a main frame, an elevating platform arranged "to move longitudinally when it is moved vertically, a latch adapted to hold said'elevating platform against longitudinal movement when said platform is in its' elevated position, a pivotally mounted dog carried by said elevating platform and cooperating with said latch to hold the same in operative position, means mounted on said main frame to be separably connected to said platform for raising the latter and moving it longi- 7 tudinally, and means automatically actuated; j by disconnection of the last-mentioned means from said platform formoving said dog to FRANK L. EIDMANN. 

